Essential Fatty Acids in the Chick. I. Development of Fat Deficiency.

Abstract

Day-old chicks were raised on a purified diet containing less than 0.046% lipid. When compared with normal chicks receiving 4% corn oil in the same diet, growth of the fat-free birds was normal for 6-8 weeks, when a slight retardation occurred. Symptoms of essential fatty acid deficiency were not marked. Some depigmentation of feathers and scaliness of skin were noted. At autopsy after 8 weeks, fat-deficient male chicks had smaller testes; 2 of 4 females after 26 weeks had immature ovaries. Other organs were normal. Water intake of fat-deficient chicks increased significantly only after 11 weeks.